Work

Aquaporin‐3 and aquaporin‐5 impact the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma spheroids

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with poor survival due to late diagnosis and ineffective therapies. Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) and AQP5 are transmembrane proteins overexpressed in PDAC, promoting tumor progression and metastasis, representing promising therapeutic targets. Here, we investigated their involvement in PDAC spheroids' growth and morphology using two human PDAC cell lines, BxPC-3 and MiaPaca-2. Treatment with AQP3 inhibitors decreased spheroids' diameter, area, and viability and altered MiaPaca-2 spheroids' circularity, suggesting reduced growth. Similarly, silencing AQP3 or AQP5 in BxPC-3 spheroids decreased spheroids' size with a more pronounced viability reduction, indicating impaired growth and cell death. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the critical roles of AQP3 and AQP5 in PDAC spheroids' development.

Source: FEBS Open Bio

DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.70270

Authors: Catarina Pimpão, Diogo M. Engrácia, Graça Soveral, Filipa Mendes

Institutions: University of Lisbon, Instituto Superior Técnico, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares

Language: English

Topic: Ion Transport and Channel Regulation

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,210